PRESS RELEASE

Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company and Supacat, a defence vehicle engineering company have officially launched production of 70 High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Jackal 3s for the British Army.

An innovative manufacturing facility at Babcock’s Devonport site has been specially developed for this purpose and will produce 62 of the vehicles, with the remaining eight to be built at Supacat’s manufacturing facilities in Dunkeswell. Production of the new vehicles is planned to be completed by the summer of 2024.

The project is one of the first contracts to deliver on the UK’s Land Industrial Strategy. Close working relationships between Babcock, Supacat the British Army and the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD), Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Team have ensured that the operational and safety requirements of the vehicle are fully met.

In tribute to both the British Army and the Royal Navy, the new South West production facility has been named ‘The Raglan Building’ in recognition of the nearby Raglan Barracks which supported British soldiers on their way to overseas operations in the 1800s.

The facility is future-proofed and is ready for subsequent build programmes. Transformational innovation and technology have been optimised throughout the production line and includes the use of bespoke ‘Pulse’ software which maximises efficiency during vehicle assembly. It is anticipated that the advantages of being located in the South Devon Freeport will benefit the future through-put of this production facility for years to come.

The Jackal 3 benefits from over a decade of development by Supacat for the UK and overseas customers since the last iteration of Jackal was delivered to the British Army. It has a number of enhancements to support operational requirements, including improved protection for the crew and an increased Gross Vehicle Mass for greater load carrying.

The Jackal 2 was a class-leader off-road, however the new suspension in the Jackal 3 will deliver even better off-road performance. Whilst being procured as a 4×4 vehicle, the Jackal 3 can be readily transformed into a 6-wheel drive vehicle which more than doubles its load carrying capacity.

This programme is directly contributing to the economic potential of the South West with nearly all of the programme’s supply chain sourced in the UK and 50 percent specifically from the region. Through a dedicated social value plan, the contract has already created over 100 new jobs across both Babcock and Supacat’s respective sites. Part of this programme also includes an ongoing focus on skills development and enhancing the capability of the workforce, supporting the development of transferable skill sets.

Major General Darren Crook CBE, Director for the Land Equipment Operating Centre at DE&S said:

“This Supacat and Babcock collaboration will deliver modern fighting vehicles for the British Armed Forces and our allies, whilst developing and maintaining key land defence engineering skills in a much valued part of the South West of England. It is tangible evidence of the British Army’s Land Industrial Strategy and our purpose for Defence: ‘to protect the nation and help it prosper.”

David Lockwood, CEO Babcock said:

“At this time of global instability, the significance to the British Army of delivering the HMT Jackal 3 vehicle should not be understated. These Jackals will help keep the UK safe, whilst our technologically advanced production facility will support social value and economic prosperity in the region for years to come.”

Nick Ames, CEO Supacat said:

“As an SME based in South West England, it is an enormous privilege to have our product selected yet again by the British Army. The Jackal 3 is the product of 25 years of specific development and 45 years of corporate development. Every member of our staff takes enormous pride in the quality of the product that provides our soldiers with a leading-edge battle proven platform that they can rely on. That pride in quality also led us to our production partner for this project, Babcock. Our teams have worked, together with the MoD, tirelessly to a challenging timescale and with enabling technology, to support this procurement and we will continue to do so into the future to provide world class product to the British Army.”

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Notes to Editor:
Babcock is an international defence company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus countries. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability, and capability by delivering engineering, support and critical systems to defence and civil markets.

Supacat is the world’s leading specialist in the design and development of high mobility defence vehicles with over 1000 specialist, battle-proven vehicles delivered into service globally. Part of SC Group, it is an innovative engineering and design company providing global, defence focused products and services, with offices in the UK and Australia. Its agility and speed enable Supacat to provide and fully support high performance solutions in short timescales. The UK Ministry of Defence’s procurement of Jackal and Coyote vehicles demonstrates the regard in which Supacat’s capabilities and products are held.

For further information contact:

Babcock International Group
Tel: +44 (0)20 7353 4200
Email: [email protected]
www.babcockinternational.com

Supacat Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 1404 891 777
Email: [email protected]
www.supacat.com

Nick Ames CEO SC Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Applegarth as a Director of Supacat Limited.

“Phil has been with the business since 2009, after completing over 23-years in the Army. Phil has filled a number of roles in his time at Supacat, all of them within the defence vehicles business stream. He has a strong network of colleagues within the Ministry of Defence and in overseas Defence Ministries as well a good relationship with the Tier 1 industry partners within defence.”

Phil is delighted with his new appointment, and shares part of his history with us:

“I joined Supacat in July 2009 as the Support Operations Manager and on promotion to Head of Customer support in 2011, I made some sweeping changes to maximise long-term business opportunities and create a solid foundation to grow the organisation.  For the last five-years, I have been responsible for looking after the global Supacat defence business stream within SC Group with the exception of Asia-Pacific.

My team of project managers and I are responsible for delivering all aspects of new programmes and in-service support across the globe in which we operate. This includes Spares, Repairs, Field Service Support, Training, Upgrades and Improvements and Post Design Services to meet the customer’s needs.  I will continue to focus on extending the global SF family and developing new capabilities on existing platforms and delivering exciting new programmes.

Prior to joining Supacat, I completed over 23-years in the Army as a proud Para Commando Loggie.  Advice was seldom listened to and even after being warned never to volunteer; I always had my hand in the air for anything mad, bad or dangerous!  My considerable experience of vehicle based mobility operations enables me to intimately understand and credibly advise the needs of our customers.  In my remaining spare time, I am a Reserve RIFLES Officer offering years of mobility and operational experience into specialist mission units within Joint Force Command (JFC).

I am married to Jo who also works at SC Group as the Export Compliance Officer, who patiently stays at home.  Jo while at home looks after her horses, chickens, dogs and my sheep and Highland cows, while uncomplainingly waiting for my return!

The team at SC Group Ltd would like to wish Phil every success in his new role.

If you didn’t get chance to read the Supacat article in the October copy of Nation Shield, then you can catch up today.  The following article explains that we are offering a step change in capability and payload capacity on our HMT Extenda MK2 plus so much more.

Read the article here

View our recent interviews about the Supacat LRV 600 and HMT conversions by clicking on the link below.

To watch the interview about the latest additions to Supacat’s HMT family of vehicles click here

To watch the Supacat LRV 600 prototype debut click here

The high mobility vehicle and engineering firm, Supacat, has rebranded under a new SC identity to take the company forward in its successful expansion into new markets and provide a clear customer focus for the company’s products and capabilities.

The newly formed SC Group comprises four defined businesses.  Solidly established in defence, the Supacat name remains in place for the company’s core defence business; SC Innovation is the new brand for all engineering solutions for non-defence customers; Proteum the new brand for the marine products and services company (formerly MDS Marine); and the Blackhill Engineering brand is retained for the large fabrications and associated machining business.

Having successfully outgrown its brand, and whilst retaining its heritage, the new group identity has been created as a platform to allow the company to grow and develop its joint capabilities and bring innovative solutions to its customers across multiple sectors.  Over the last decade it has become one of the world’s leading companies in developing equipment for operation in harsh environments in sectors from defence to marine, renewables, mineral exploration, oil & gas and nuclear power sectors, where high performance, reliability and safety are paramount.

The company was founded in 1980 to develop high mobility vehicles for defence and civil customers.  In 2011 it established Supacat Pty Ltd in Australia and during 2014 made a series of acquisitions in the commercial marine sector leading to the creation of Proteum based in Hamble, UK.  At the end of last year Exeter based heavy fabrication specialist, Blackhill Engineering , was acquired.  SC Group, the Supacat defence business and SC Innovation operate from headquarter facilities at Dunkeswell, Devon, UK.

“The SC brand brings together our people, products and services to create an innovative engineering group structure to achieve our 2020 vision of a diversified industrial group offering a one stop shop of engineering processes.  I look forward to leading the SC Group into the future and, working with our customers to exceed their expectations. We have a passionate and committed team with the skills, expertise, focus and passion to provide the highest value to our customers with bespoke quality products and services”, said Nick Ames, Chief Executive, SC Group.

Click on the thumbnail to view our story.

The renamed SC Group comprises:

• Supacat is the refreshed brand retaining the company heritage for the core defence business.  Supacat develops and supports high mobility military vehicles such as the HMT Series (e.g. Jackal and Coyote), LRV400 and SPV400 and provides specialist engineering services for defence customers.
• SC Innovation provides engineering solutions to support all non-defence business. SC Innovation incorporates specialist vehicle work with the RNLI and the emergency services together with products and services for challenging sectors such as oil & gas, marine, renewable energy and nuclear.  These include the SMV 24 multi-purpose vessel and a wave energy device.
• Proteum is a newly consolidated marine brand within SC Group, formed following the recent acquisition of MDS Marine and Bukh Diesel UK. Proteum represents and distributes a portfolio of marine products and services across UK and Ireland including Bukh, Marine Diesel Sweden, OXE Diesel and Konrad propulsion systems. Proteum also offers global support solutions.
• Blackhill Engineering Services, established over 50 years ago and another recent acquisition of the Group, retains its existing brand.  Blackhill Engineering serves current and new customers with an expanded portfolio of machine engineering, large fabrication and complex machine assembly services.

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For information:
Jamie Clarke
SC Group Ltd
[email protected]
+44 (0)7921 973916

Celia Turner
CTPR
[email protected]
+44(0)7703 344425

Rheinmetall has lodged a bid in response to the Commonwealth of Australia’s LAND 400 Phase 2 – Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability request for tender. Under the tender, the Commonwealth is offered the latest version of the BOXER 8X8, the in-service LANCE turret and Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) architecture.

The battle proven BOXER 8×8 – a joint development of Rheinmetall and KMW – provides a unique mix of mobility, capacity and survivability that allows the vehicle to operate effectively across the full spectrum of combat operations, while the vehicles inherent adaptability allows it to evolve as requirements and threats change. If selected for LAND 400 the BOXER Cavalry Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) will provide the Australian Army a combat proven, low risk capability that can be rapidly transitioned into service and easily supported through life.

The Rheinmetall LANCE turret is a mature system that is in-service with a NATO country. LANCE generates a range of scalable, precise, effects to effectively deal with threats on the current and future battlefield.

Rheinmetall is committed to the creation of an enduring Australian capability beyond the minimum LAND 400 Australian Industry Capability (AIC) requirements, and has successfully completed a comprehensive supplier engagement activity with more than three hundred Australian Companies. Through this process Rheinmetall has selected Supacat to be the first Australian company to be part of the BOXER CRV team.

Supacat in Australia will draw on its experience in developing and certifying vehicles with the Australian Department of Defence to support the Rheinmetall LAND 400 team.
Andrew Fletcher, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said “Delivering the best possible protection to Australian armed forces – in line with the demanding protection specifications – is a non-negotiable objective for our LAND 400 team.”

“Rheinmetall’s combat proven BOXER 8×8 CRV delivers the highest levels of protection required under LAND 400 and is a formidable MOTS platform when combined with the in-service LANCE Turret.”

“Our LAND 400 industry engagement activities have been well received and our European executives have identified a number of Australian suppliers who we are currently in negotiations with to enter our global supply chain for LAND 400 and other international programs. We look forward to working with Australian industry to provide the best capability for the Australian Defence Force on the LAND 400 program.”

Ian Irving, Chief Executive of Northrop Grumman Australia, welcomed the alliance with Rheinmetall.

“Northrop Grumman will leverage its extensive experience to offer a fifth-generation C4ISR solution that will significantly reduce crew workload, improve situational awareness and enable interoperability across the Australian Defence Force and with coalition forces. Our solution will provide an enduring platform ready for enhancements with future sensors and communications systems. Together, Northrop Grumman and Rheinmetall will also extend an impressive and lasting package of work for Australian industry,” Mr Irving said.

Michael Halloran, Managing Director of Supacat in Australia said “We are delighted to be working with Rheinmetall Defence and offering a local perspective on testing, qualifying and modifying vehicles for the Australian users.

For our own products, we partner with a number of Australian SMEs who deliver outstanding capabilities in their own right and we look forward to bringing these capabilities into the LAND 400 program.”

About the participating companies:

Rheinmetall and its Defence divisions – Combat Systems, Electronic Solutions and Wheeled Vehicles – set the global standard for excellence in a wide array of disciplines and offer an extensive array of military hardware that deliver mobility, lethality, survivability of troops, reconnaissance capability and networking of national and international systems. Please visit www.rheinmetall-defence.com and https://boxercrv.com.au for more information.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernisation to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com/Australia for more information.

Supacat is an innovative producer of high mobility military vehicles, specialist vehicles and maritime products. Supacat have an established presence in Australia based in Melbourne, Victoria. Please visit www.supacat.com for more information

Supacat was recently featured on Forces TV. Please click here to view the programme.

Supacat will be exhibiting at the following events in 2015:

DSEi – 15th – 18th September 2015, ExCel, London.

Advance Engineering UK 2015 – 4th – 5th November, NEC Birmingham.